Fuse switch



Dec. 1.9, 1933. 1 .V BOLL V 1,940,575

FUSE SWITCH L. P. BOLL FUSE SWITCH Dec. 19, 1933. l

Filed Nov. 21, 1952 4 sheets-sheet` 2 Dec. 19, 1933. v L. P. BOLL1,940,575

FUSE SWITCH Filed Nov. 21, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 3 Dec. 19, 19337 l L PBOLL, A 1,940,575

FUSE SWITCH Filed Nov. 21, I1952 l4 sheets-sheet 4 FIGS.

'Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED s'ra'rizsI si I 1,940,57165 FUSE SWITCHvv VLester Pierce Boll, University City, Mo., assignor l to W. N.Matthews Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri iApplication November 21, 1932 SerialA No. 643,665

4 claims. (ci. zoo-126)' thestructure'disclosed'in thefinited Statespatent application of Ralph Pittman et el., Serial Number 602,666, filedApril 2, V1932, now United States Patent Number 1,894,056, dated January10, 1933 for Automatic fuse-changer; vthe provisionof apparatus of theclass described incorporating by combination, the structures disclosedin the United States patent application of Theodore Birkenmaier, SerialNumber 575,193, filed November 16, 1931, now United States Patent Number1,935,386, dated November v14, 1933 for Fuse and United yStates Patent`1,899,915 issued to C. L. Matthews et al. on February 28, 1933 for'Electrical cut-out; the provision of apparatusof the class describedwhich employs identical fuse cartridge for reloading any of itselements; the provision of apparatus of this class whose elements shallbe easily changeable and the conditions of which are readily visiblewithout close inspection; and the provision of apparatus of the classdescribed which is simple in operation, and compact, rugged andeconomical in construction. Other objects will be in part obvious and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

, The invention .accordingly comprises the `elements and combinations'of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts whichwill be exemplifiedin the structures hereinafter which will be indicatedin the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front` elevation viewed from the right of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan View viewed from the top of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the upper end of a fuse cartridge;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of ,Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the lower end of said cartridge in apivoting socket; the latter being in thrown position.

i Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, ,there is shown at numeral lan insulator rack supporting insulators 3, the latter carrying up- .perand lower brackets 5 and 7 respectively. l A

line Wire connection 9 is provided on the upper bracket 5^and line wireconnections 11 on the lower bracket ,7. Either one of the lineconnections 11 may be usedfas illustrated in Fig. 2 whichfshowsthe-'left one in use.

The brackets 5 and 7 carry centrally located spring terminal clips 13and 15 for spring en' gagement with the iiat side of upper and lowerterminal contacts 17 and 19 respectively of a central fuse cartridge C.This cartridge C is of a general nature of the cartridge described insaid Birkenmaier application, and'has a connection 21 in the uppercontact 17 for a fuse link 23 which passes downwardly through aninsulating tube 25 of said cartridge C and emerges from the lower endthereof. The insulated tube 25 passes through the lower contact 19.

Exteriorly, the fuse link 23 passes under and over a hinged element 29of a clamp 27, a leaf spring element 31 forming the other element of theclahip as described `in said Patents 1,935,386 and 1,899,915 (see alsoFig. 2).

When the link 23 is loaded, the spring 31 is pulled down from theuntensioned, dotted-line position also shown bythe numeral 31 n Fig. 1,and the clamp 27 is opened by rotating the member 29 clockwise andthereafterI feeding in the end of the link23. Then upon release of thelink from the hand of theoperator,` the strained posi tion is assumed asshown in solid lines in Fig'. 1. The spring 31 forces down the element29, thus closing the clamp 27 to hold the link 23 in strained positionin the tube. These points will be clear from Figs. 1 and 2 andfrom saidBirkenmaier application.

The upper end'of the leaf spring 31 'is fastened to a platen 33 which ishinged to the lower contact 19 and which is normally pressed upwardly bya leaf spring 35 reacting against the contact 19. The leaf spring 35 isshown also in Fig. 6.

Said lower contact 19 also carries a downward extension 37 carryingtrunnions 39 which rest in open sockets 41 of rigid extended ears 43 ofthe central portion of the lower bracket 7 (Fig. 1). The sockets '41being open at the top, provision is therebymade for applying andremoving as Ia whole the central,y fuse cartridge C.

Referring now to the upper terminal `17 of the' cartridge C (Fig. 5shows an identical cartridge L), it will be seen to include ears 45 forpivotally reacting between thev upper terminal 17 and the arm 51 of thebell crank 47 tends to normally throw the latch 49 into upward position,However, if a hook of -a lineman's extension tool or the like' isapplied to the ring 59, either upward or downward pressure (in fact anypressure except one directed into the axis of rotation of the mem- A thespring 31 while the cartridge as a whole is separated from the terminals13 and 15. Thus loaded, the cartridge C mayhave the trunnions 39 appliedto the fixed sockets 41, the whole cartridge then being rotated to avertical position (Fig. 1) the upper terminal V17 engaging the upperline terminal 13. v

The lower bracket 7 also'carries sidewardly located sets of ears 63which pivotally support socket members for receiving the trunnions 39 ofrightand left-hand cartridges R and'L respectively (see Figs. 1', 2 and6), said cartridges R and L being exact duplicatesof said centralcartridge C.

The pivoted sockets 65 have upward socket extensions 67 between which,and sockets 69 on the bracket 7, are positioned compression coil springs71 which tension the socket members 65 when said members 65 are rotatedcounterclockwise (Fig. 1). Latches 73 and 75 hold the pivoted socketmembers 65 of the cartridges Lv and R respectively against clockwiserotation after they -have been rotated counterclockwise against thereactions of springs 71.

As shown in Fig. 1, no upper terminalspring clips are provided for thecartridges R and L in l'It their counterclockwise or vertical positions.Such springterminal clips are provided at the ends of a branch 79 of anextending arm 77, and in the planes of the respective planes of thecartridges R. These clips are numbered 81 and 83 for the respectivecartridges L and R.

The lateral extension 79 also carries U-shaped members 85 and 87 whichclear the upper ends of the cartridges L and R and which'are providedwith stops 89 and 91 respectively for 'preventing lrocketing of thecartridges because of reactions engendered upon blowing of the same. TheU- shaped members 85 and 87 also have lower edges 93 which are adaptedto be engaged by the ends 49 of the arms 49 upon forward nswing of thecartridges R and L (Fig. 1).

Referring again to the lower bracket 7, releasing means for thecartridges R and L will now be described. f 'I'he left-hand latch 73 iscarried on a rock shaft 95 supported in bearings 97 on the lower bracket7. Said'rock .shaft 95 has an extending arm 99 Which'visadapted to beengaged by an extension 101 of the central cartridge platen 33 when thelatter lifts (as when the fuse switch 23 blows, thus permitting releaseof the spring 31 which moves upwardlyv through the `dotted-line positionshown in Fig. l). Under these conditions the leaf spring 35 lifts theplaten 33 with its arm 101 to contact with the extension 99 and thus,through the rock shaft 95 and latch 73 to release the terminal socket 65of the lefthand cartridge L.

On the other hand, the latch is carried on a rock shaft 103 supported inbearings 105 on said lower bracket 7. Said rock shaft 103 carries anextending arm 107 which is adapted to be contacted by a lateralextension 109 of the platen 33 of said left-hand fuse cartridge L. Thuswhen the left-hand fuse blows, its spring 31 moves upwardly so that itsplaten 109 contacts the extension 107 to rotate the latch 75so as to-release the right-hand fuse cartridge R.

When the leftand right-hand fuse cartridges are released respectively,the respective springs .71 force them counterclockwise to dotted-lineposition shown in Fig. 1. In this position the latch arms 49 havecontacted'with the edges 93, and the upper contacts of said cartridgesare positioned within the respective clips 81 and/or 83.

' The operation of the device is as follows:

A11 of the cartridges C and R (being removed 1 from the apparatus) arefused, the springs 3l taking the solid-line position shown in Fig. 1.-lhe cartridges are then placed with trunnions 39 in'their respectivesockets. It will be understood that the socket 41 of the centralcartridge C is rigid and that the sockets 65 of the lateral cartridges Land R are swingable, but that when the cartridges L and R are applied,they are held back by latches 73 and 75 against the reaction of spring71. y

All of the cartridges having been rotated ,counterclockwise to the-solidline position shown in Fig. 1, the central cartridge C thus has its fuseplaced across the line. The fuses of the rightand left-hand cartridgesare not so placed, because the upper termini of the cartridges are notin contact with any line terminal clips.

The device is now in condition for operation. When the fuse of cartridgeC blows, it is, pulled from the tube 25 by the action of spring 31, and

. also by the expulsion action of the violent expansion of gases. Itwill be noted that the extension arm 77 functions as a stop forpreventing substantial upward movement of the central cartridge C uponexpulsive reaction.

After the lower part of the link 23 is ejected and withdrawn from thetube 25, the clamp 27 automatically opens, thus to drop the fuse link tothe ground and positively opening and clearing the circuit.

Also, the spring 31 moves upwardly through the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 1, thus aiding the small leaf spring 35 to upwardlyrotate.

-the platen 33 of the cartridge C. This causes arm 101 (Fig. 2)- to moveupwardly to contact the extension arm 99, thus to rotate the rock shaftand latch 73. 'I'his releases the pivoted socket 65 of said cartridge L,which, under the action of its spring 7l moves to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1. In this position the upper terminal of thecartridge L contacts with the clip 81, the latch 49 limiting themovement by contact with the edges 93. I'his places the cartl ridge L incircuit after a short interval of open circuit condition. If the troublewhich causes the first fuse cartridge C to blow has cleared before thesecond fuse cartridge L moves into contact position, no further actiontakes place except that the second cartridge goes into action. However,if the trouble has not been cleared, the excessive current will beapplied to the second cartridge L in circuit. Its link will also drop tothe ground, according to the sequence of the events above described inconnection with the first cartridge, and its spring 3l will cause itsarm 109 to contact the arm 107, thus rotating the shaft 103 and rotatingthe latch 'l5 to release the right hand maintain service. but if thetrouble is permanent, x

the line will be permanently open until aline crew repairs the trouble.

Among the advantages of the invention may be noted the fact that thecartridges C, L and R are identical and it is therefore unnecessary touse any care in determining what fixed or rotable socket a givencartridge shall be placed in. Each cartridge tits in any position.

The linemans hooked stick, -when placed in the respective-rings 59 maybe pressed upwardly or downwardly to effect release of the latches 49 sothat the cartridges may be removed. It will be noted in this connectionthat the latch 49 o f the central cartridge .C holds it in position bycontact with edges 50 of the upper bracket 5.

A trouble man. can see at a glance, even when traveling in a motor car,or otherwise, whether any of the cartridges have blown and which oneshave done so, and this by noting the angular positions of the cartridgesor tubes. vIf cartridge L has been thrownl outwardly, this means thatcartridge C has blown. If cartridges L and R are thrown outwardly, thismeans that at least b oth C and L have blown, and inany event that thenext blowing of cartridge will beV permanent v and that no automaticrefusing will occur, and thus that a replacement is in order so that theeffectiveness of the device as a repeating fuse may be restored.

If cartridges or tubes L and R are forward and in their upper contacts,then for a short moment both C and L and/or C and R tubes are in circuitat the same time, if not blown. It is only necesvertical position out oftheir upper contacts to put ail of the load on the link inthe refusetube C. i It will be understood that cartridges L and R are passedthrough their respective contacts 8l and 83 in making removals andreplacements,

If the troubleman finds that C and L tubes are both without links. heremoves both tubes and relinks them. Then he puts one of them vbaci: inthe vertical position and immediately pushes the other tube back to itsvertical position.l

If the troubleman finds that all of the tubes have cleared, he removesthem with his stick and after relinking them he puts any one of therelinked tubes into the vertical position ,and then pushescthe othersthrough contacts to their vertical positions.

All of the latches and/or pawls are self-locking when the tubes arevpushed into their ver' tical positions. A

VIt is tobe understood that the term vertical VVis herein to be'construed as a position wherein the cartridgesv or tubes generally lieparallel to the position oi' the fixed central cartridge C, in asmuch asthe device as a whole may be fastened to a vertically arranged member-or one that is horizontal if desired. The device operates inde'-pendently of the relative position of the same with respect to theearth.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As inany changes could be made in carrying centtl'ie ends thereof, thecontacts of one of said sary to push back the L and R cartridges tofth'out the above constructions without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained inthe abovedescription or shownv in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A reclosing fuse switch comprising line' con tacts. a plurality offuse-containing insulating cartridges having contacts adjacent the endsthereof. the contacts of one of said cartridges engagingl cooperatingcontacts to close a circuit, fuses electrically engaging contacts insaid cartridges, platens pivoted to the other contacts of thecartridges, leaf springs attached to said platens and removablyattachedto the respective links to tension the same. said springsdropping notina.

the links after election upon the fuses blowing,

said spring moving to new positions, and means responsive to thealternative positionings of said spring adapted to actuate other of saidtubes to engage cooperating contacts to close the circuit.

2. A reclosing fuse. switch comprising line contacts, a' plurality offuse-containing insulating cartridges having contacts adjacent Ithe endsthereof, the contacts of one oi .said 4cartridges engaging cooperatingcontacts to close a circuit, fuses electrically engaging contacts insaid cartridges, leaf springs swingingly attached respec-` tively toeach of one set of contacts and removably attached to the 4respectivelinks tol tension the same, said springs dropping the links afterejection upon the fuses blowing `and moving to new positions. and meansresponsive to the alternative positionings of said springs adapted toactuateother of said tubes to engage cooperating contacts to close thecircuit.

32 A reclosing fuse switch comprisingdxed and vpivoted line contacts, aplurality'ofuse-vcontalning insulating 4cartridges having contacts adia-115 cartridges engaging cooperating fixed contacts to close thecircuitfuseselectrically engaging contacts in said-cartridges, leafsprings'attached Y ing insulating cartridges having contactsl adiacentthe ends thereof. the contacts of one of said cartridges engagingcooperating xed line contacts to close a circuit. fuses electricallyengaging contacts in said cartridges, platens pivoted to one set ofcontacts of the cartridges, leaf springs. attached to said platens andremovably attached to the respective links to tension the same, saidsprings dropping the links after ejec tion vupon the fuses blowing andmoving to new positions, and means responsive to the alternativepositioning of said springs adapted ,to actuate other'of said cartridgeswhich are in the pivoted line contactsv to engage cooperating iixedcontacts to close the circuit, said cartridges and parts mounted thereonbeing identical.

- -LES'l'liR. PIERCE BOLL.

